Westland Whirlind (helicopter) - Airfix 1/72
Discussion
My next project.
The mouldings for this kit dates back to 1956 so one has to be mentally prepared to accept that what was normal regarding detail and accuracy 70 years ago is not quite where the plastic kit industry is today.
Having said that, I enjoy doing my best with these older kits as they do have some advantages over modern kits - such as a lower parts count and..... er, that's it. And they do provide a certain nostalgia factor.
The kit was recently re-released by Airfix in their "Vintage Classic" range and, as you can see from the pictures, this is the version I have. The colour scheme and decals provided is the green "Admiral's Barge" version which was originally issued around 1978 or so.
I built one of these Whirlinds around 1973/74 and at that time it was in the attractive Antarctic Survey red and black scheme and this is the scheme I am going to use again - hopefully to a higher standard than I did when I was 14 or so.
One major omission in the Airfix kit is the four roof windows. These are just depicted by raised panel lines rather than proper clear parts. I will either paint these grey or use a decal to depict these windows as I don't want to start drilling out the actual apertures.
The mouldings for this kit dates back to 1956 so one has to be mentally prepared to accept that what was normal regarding detail and accuracy 70 years ago is not quite where the plastic kit industry is today.
Having said that, I enjoy doing my best with these older kits as they do have some advantages over modern kits - such as a lower parts count and..... er, that's it. And they do provide a certain nostalgia factor.
The kit was recently re-released by Airfix in their "Vintage Classic" range and, as you can see from the pictures, this is the version I have. The colour scheme and decals provided is the green "Admiral's Barge" version which was originally issued around 1978 or so.
I built one of these Whirlinds around 1973/74 and at that time it was in the attractive Antarctic Survey red and black scheme and this is the scheme I am going to use again - hopefully to a higher standard than I did when I was 14 or so.
One major omission in the Airfix kit is the four roof windows. These are just depicted by raised panel lines rather than proper clear parts. I will either paint these grey or use a decal to depict these windows as I don't want to start drilling out the actual apertures.
Eric Mc said:
My next project.
The mouldings for this kit dates back to 1956 so one has to be mentally prepared to accept that what was normal regarding detail and accuracy 70 years ago is not quite where the plastic kit industry is today.
Having said that, I enjoy doing my best with these older kits as they do have some advantages over modern kits - such as a lower parts count and..... er, that's it. And they do provide a certain nostalgia factor.
The kit was recently re-released by Airfix in their "Vintage Classic" range and, as you can see from the pictures, this is the version I have. The colour scheme and decals provided is the green "Admiral's Barge" version which was originally issued around 1978 or so.
I built one of these Whirlinds around 1973/74 and at that time it was in the attractive Antarctic Survey red and black scheme and this is the scheme I am going to use again - hopefully to a higher standard than I did when I was 14 or so.
One major omission in the Airfix kit is the four roof windows. These are just depicted by raised panel lines rather than proper clear parts. I will either paint these grey or use a decal to depict these windows as I don't want to start drilling out the actual apertures.
The box art is often better than with modern kits.The mouldings for this kit dates back to 1956 so one has to be mentally prepared to accept that what was normal regarding detail and accuracy 70 years ago is not quite where the plastic kit industry is today.
Having said that, I enjoy doing my best with these older kits as they do have some advantages over modern kits - such as a lower parts count and..... er, that's it. And they do provide a certain nostalgia factor.
The kit was recently re-released by Airfix in their "Vintage Classic" range and, as you can see from the pictures, this is the version I have. The colour scheme and decals provided is the green "Admiral's Barge" version which was originally issued around 1978 or so.
I built one of these Whirlinds around 1973/74 and at that time it was in the attractive Antarctic Survey red and black scheme and this is the scheme I am going to use again - hopefully to a higher standard than I did when I was 14 or so.
One major omission in the Airfix kit is the four roof windows. These are just depicted by raised panel lines rather than proper clear parts. I will either paint these grey or use a decal to depict these windows as I don't want to start drilling out the actual apertures.
Certainly Roy Cross' art work at Airfix was superb (mostly). The artwork for the green and white version of the Whirlwind was after Cross had stopped providing artwork for Airfix, I think. The red and black Antarctic schemed art was definitely his - and superb it is -
I actually think that Airfix's current "go-to" artist, Adam Tooby, is producing some great images on a par with Cross.
I actually think that Airfix's current "go-to" artist, Adam Tooby, is producing some great images on a par with Cross.
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